Munster lorry horror: Van drives into crowd of people in Germany – first photos

The German Interior Minsitry has confirmed four fatalities including ther driver who took his own life.

There are reports six people are in a critical condition.

The vehicle, described as a small truck, appears to have rammed into a crowd of people who were sitting around the Kiepenkerl statue in Munster’s old town.

Emergency services vehicles raced to the scene and a police helicopter is hovering above the medieval town the about 300 miles west of the capital Berlin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman says “our thoughts are with the victims and their families”.

First pictures from the scene show upturned chairs and tables outside a pavement cafe in the public square.

The area is very popular with tourists and was packed at the time of the attack with people enjoying the spring weather.

Much of the town is cordoned off and locals have been asked to avoid the area.

Fire brigade spokesman said the number of affected people is at about 50.

Erich Rettinghaus, chairman of German Police union said: “First of all we are mourning for the victims and injured people.

Our condolences to all the injured people and the family of the dead and injured and we also wish a speedy recovery.

“We now have to investigate and arrest those responsible to avoid further attacks”.

Police are not looking for any further suspects.

Andrea Nahles, parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats, junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition, said: “I am shocked by the news from Muenster.” 

“My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives,” she added. “I hope that our authorities can quickly clarify the background to this incident and wish the local forces much strength for their work.”

The van attack comes on the first anniversary of the Stockholm attack where a hijacked lorry was deliberately driven into crowds before being crashed through a corner of a department store.

Five people were killed and 14 others were seriously injured.

The incident also evokes memories of a December 2016 truck attack in Berlin that killed 12 people.

Anis Amri, a failed Tunisian asylum seeker with Islamist links, hijacked a truck on Dec. 19, 2016, killed the driver and then ploughed it into a crowded marketplace, killing 11 more people and injuring dozens of others.